Hamster wheel

Impeller ( colloquially often hamster wheel ) is the name for a wheel which is placed or attached in a small animal cage and serves to satisfy the urge to move the animal.

Form and function

An impeller in the form of a small drum, which can rotate about a central axis. It is mounted so that while running no forward movement, only a circular movement is performed, similarly to a treadmill. The animal can climb into the wheel and running in the direction of rotation of the wheel going. The wheel is according to the weight of the animal and turns. The adage Like a hamster wheel alludes to this sort impeller and said the non- progress, despite constant hard work and effort. In a similar manner to hamster balls urge to move small animals satisfy.

Animal welfare Adverse impellers can cause serious injury. So it can come up with is not closed, just from the spokes of existing tread and wheels with an open back wall bruising, bone fractures and loss of limbs in wheels. Especially dangerous are wheels with cross bracing on the home page, in which the animals can be crushed between the wheel and the suspension ( "scissors effect"). A in relation to body size to small diameter of the wheel, in which the animal must run with durchgebogenem back, can cause damage to the spine ( swayback ) - the minimum diameter for an animal-friendly impeller is for golden hamsters 25-30 cm

Turnspit Wheel

Had a practical meaning powered by dogs running wheels before the era of electrification: In the 18th century, small dogs, so-called turnspit Dogs (English for spit rotation Dog) were grown and adapted in the UK to drive in small treadmills spits over the stove. This rotisserie kit called turnspit, the impeller wheel dog or turnspit wheel. Also in other parts of the dogs was driving use.

Proverbial hamster

The rat race is seen as a symbol or metaphor for a relationship of routine and recurring processes human life.